Card changes

The AAdvantage Executive is now a World Legend card, and the fee is $695

More credits, a higher fee, and the Grubhub benefit gone for new accounts.

Published August 23, 2026Updated November 2, 2026

A passport and boarding documents laid out on a table — Illustrative photograph. It does not depict a specific property, aircraft or destination named in this story.

In short

Citi's AAdvantage Executive card moved to the World Legend Mastercard tier with a $695 annual fee for accounts approved from 23 August 2026, adding several credits and removing the Grubhub benefit for new cardholders.

Citi's top American Airlines card is now the Citi / AAdvantage Executive World Legend Mastercard. The annual fee went from $595 to $695 for applications approved on or after 23 August 2026. Authorised user fees were left alone.

What was added

Up to $500 a year toward American Airlines Vacations packages
Up to $100 a year on in-flight and Admirals Club purchases
Omni Hotels Champion status, with a free night reward after a qualifying two-night direct booking
Avis President's Club status, if you enrol by 31 August 2028

What improved

The Lyft credit went from $10 a month to $15 after three rides in a month, lifting the annual cap from $120 to $180. AAdvantage Hotels and Cars moved from 10X to 12X. Loyalty Point milestone bonuses doubled: 10,000 points at each of 50,000, 90,000, 165,000 and 240,000 Loyalty Points, for up to 40,000 a year rather than 20,000.

What went

The Grubhub credit is gone for accounts opened on or after 23 August 2026. Existing accounts keep it through 31 August 2027.

Admirals Club membership is unchanged, and that remains the reason most people hold the card. The test has not changed either: if you would buy an Admirals Club membership anyway, the fee makes sense. If you would not, $695 is a lot of credits to work through.

The current welcome offer, shown on American Airlines' own card page, is 80,000 miles after $8,000 in three months.

Sources

Terms change without notice. Confirm anything time-sensitive on the issuer's or provider's own page before you act on it.